Pick It: TBRB #2 Joe Cordina vs. Edward Vazquez (Saturday, DAZN, 3:00 PM EST)
A solid doubleheader of title fights highlights this card with a junior lightweight main event. 31-year old IBF titlist Joe Cordina (16-0, 9 KO) gets a chance to defend the title he won twice in less than a year without losing it in the ring. 28-year old Edward Vazquez (15-1, 3 KO) would love to make him a challenger again in the immediate future. Also on the card, exciting 24-year old IBF junior flyweight tiltist Sivenathi Nontshinga (12-0, 9 KO) defends against 24-year old Adrian Curiel (23-4-1, 4 KO) against the backdrop of Kenshiro Teraji’s stated objective to unify the division. The winner here will have to be seen eventually to make that happen.
Additional Shows to Watch For
Saturday – Ajagba vs. Goodall (ESPN+, 6:00 PM EST)
29-year old heavyweight Efe Ajagba (18-1, 13 KO) may never be a champion but he continues to try to work his way to a title shot. Fans of big man boxing can catch some here as he tackles 31-year old Joseph Goodall (10-1-1, 9 KO).
Saturday – Valle vs. Ortiz (DAZN, 8:00 PM EST)
One of the best fights in boxing would be an undisputed clash at 105 pounds. Half of the equation, WBA/WBC titlist Seinesa Estrada, will surely be watching as her counterpart goes to work. 31-year old Yokasta Valle (29-2, 9 KO) hasn’t lost since 2018 and defends her IBF and WBO belts against the woman Estrada lifted the WBA belt from, 37-year old Anabel Ortiz (33-5, 4 KO). It’s comparison shopping on the way to a showdown, one of boxing’s oldest hooks.
Saturday – Lopez vs. Gonzalez (DAZN, 8:00 PM EST)
It’s lightweight action from the Cow Palace in the main event. 27-year old Adam Lopez (16-5, 6 KO) has lost two straight but only been stopped once. 33-year old Giovannie Gonzalez (18-5-2, 13 KO) is 0-1-1 in his last two and has been stopped three times in his career.
Saturday – #7 Makabu vs. Mikaeljan (FITE TV, 8:00 PM EST)
Don King is still doing shows, if quietly in his platinum years. Cruiserweights top the bill on this Miami card. Badou Jack won and quietly vacated the WBC cruiserweight belt against 35-year old Ilunga Makabu (29-3, 25 KO). Makabu tries to rebound from that February loss and regain the strap against Norair Mikaeljan (26-2, 11 KO). Mikaeljan has never been stopped and enters with three straight wins since a decision loss to Mairis Briedis.
Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at [email protected]
